ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 455 



North Carolina, whence it occurs to the coast of the Mexican 

 Gulf, and as far to the north and west as New Jersey and 

 Tennessee. It is a very active and noisy species, gliding with 

 alertness along the trunks and branches of trees, principally 

 those of oak and pine. At almost every move it utters a short, 

 shrill, and clear note, audible at a considerable distance. In 

 the breeding season its call, still more lively and petulant, is 

 reiterated through the pine forests, where it now chiefly dwells. 

 These birds are frequently seen by pairs in the company of 

 the smaller Woodpeckers and Nuthatches in the winter sea- 

 son, and they now feed by choice principally upon ants and 

 small coleoptera. 



In Florida they are already mated in the month of January, 

 and prepare their burrows in the following month. The nest 

 is frequently in a decayed trunk 20 to 30 feet from the 

 ground. In the winter season, and in cold and wet weather, 

 this bird is in the habit of roosting in its old nests or in the 

 holes of decayed trees, and frequently retreats to such places, 

 when wounded or pursued. 



The habitat of this species as at present determined is the South- 

 eastern States, including North Carolina and Tennessee, and the 

 bird also occurs sparingly in New Jersey. 



ARCTIC THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 



BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. 

 PiCOIDES ARCTICUS. 



Char. Only three toes. Above, black ; white stripe on side of head ; 

 outer tail-feathers white ; beneath, white barred with black. Adult male 

 with square patch of yellow on the crown. Length gYz to 10 inches. 



Nest. In a deep forest, an excavation in a dead tree. 



Eggs. 4-6 ; white and glossy ; 0.95 ^ 075. 



This species is an inhabitant of the northern regions from 

 Maine to the fur countries, dwelling among deep forests in 

 mountainous regions. Its voice and habits are indeed pre- 

 cisely similar to those of the Spotted Woodpeckers, to which it 



